Main navigation

creativity

I was at a function recently talking to the husband of a friend. His wife had excitedly texted me the previous evening having learned I was transitioning my art from clay to fabric. “Me too! She said. “Maybe we can get together and sew soon”.

“Oh yes”, he replied enthusiastically, “Stephanie (not real name) loves doing crafts. One entire bedroom is now devoted to her craft projects.” Now, ostensibly, these remarks could be construed as positive and supportive. I took umbrage, however, at the manner in which he referenced her “craft”, even finding his remarks faintly patronizing. I realize the boundaries between craft and art have long been contested. What defines an artist or a craft maker, or even divides an artist from a craft maker? Perhaps intention makes the distinction. If a maker intends to express something perhaps that makes it art.

As I’ve said in previous posts, I consider myself a creativity evangelist. I believe in the power of art to change lives. I’m director of The Jeremiah Project, an after school and summer creative arts program for at risk middle school age kids. I’ve observed over the last thirteen years how art can literally transform troubled teens into confident young adults. And, art transformations are definitely not restricted to the young. Jeffrey Kluger, science writer for Time Magazine contends creativity increases with age. And, creativity can literally be a life-saver for aging adults. “A Dose of Creativity“, produced by Aroha Philanthropies, documents the benefits of creative engagement among aging adults- fewer doctors’ visits, the need for less medication, memory enhancement, fewer falls, a sense of belonging, “a second chance at life” according to one of the budding artists in the documentary.

I guess that is why I took offense at labeling my friend’s artwork “craft”. This word, at least in my mind, trivializes it. Engaging in any artistic endeavor is not easy. It takes a lot of bravery to create a poem, painting, or piece of pottery and subject it to others’ scrutiny. I think of the word “craft” as kid art or crocheted doilies. (not that there is anything wrong with kid art or hand made doilies). I believe Stephanie is very intentional about her artwork. This is a woman who spent five years hand carving, etching and painting a dining room table for her family. I call art on that!

I’m a big fan of the National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA). Their mission statement says they are dedicated to fostering an understanding of the vital relationship between creative expression and healthy aging. Anyone who has engaged in even a cursory read of the Be Brave. Lose the Beige blog knows I’m a huge proponent of creative expression. Studies have demonstrated participation in the arts promotes physical and mental health, particularly among aging adults.

I was fortunate enough to attend the launch of the Creative Caregiving Initiative at the Arts and Wellness Symposium last fall in Orlando. The NCCA has developed an online caregiver toolkit. The toolkit contains artistic exercises for caregivers and their loved ones. Part of the focus is respite for the caregiver. This was the brain-child of Margie Pabst, of the Pabst Foundation for the Arts. She says, “The life of a caregiver is often filled with isolation, loneliness, stress and depression with patches of sunlight and hope. We saw the arts as a beacon of hope.”

While this initiative is targeted primarily to caregivers of family members with Alzheimer’s and other cognitive disorders, I see its application for caregivers of all shapes and forms.

As Baby Boomer women, it feels like we have been caring for others our whole lives. We are truly the “tweener” generation, sandwiched between parenting our adult children and tending to aging parents. I know my mother cared for me and loved me but I’m not sure she hoisted my emotional traumas on to her shoulders in the same way we do with our children. Or perhaps, we just did not share them in the same way we have encouraged our children to share theirs. We looked them in the eyes all those years ago and said things like, “you can tell me anything. “. In many instances we would have gladly assumed their cares rather than witnessing their struggles.

My daughter recently underwent a very real trauma. While intellectually I know the experience was more difficult for her, I don’t know if it could have been that much greater considering the extent to which I felt her pain. Living in another state made access more difficult so there were many telephone calls, plane trips, Face-time sessions, and any other means of communication.

Creativity was an integral part of our care exchange. A shopping cart at Michaels Craft Store was loaded with clay, buttons, paint, and canvasses.

panel paintings

An entire day was devoted to creating. It really did not matter what, it was the process of creating. Hallmark holiday movies accompanied our sculpting and scrapbooking.

clay Christmas sculptures

My family room assumed an art studio with bits of paper, Fimo clay, and glitter strewn about. So what! Cleaning only took minutes. The process and products will last in our hearts forever.

I really shy away from using words like “crusade” or “evangelist” due to their religious connotations, but on occasion, I think these words can be apropos. For example, at times I feel like Be Brave. Lose the Beige is on a creativity crusade and I’m an evangelist singing its praises, so convinced am I of the potential life-changing/life affirming capabilities of creativity. Pretty strong statement, huh? Well, a New York Times article entitled “We’re All Artists Now”, validates this contention. The article’s author, Laura Holson, leads off by saying “Our best selves are merely one doodle away. Where once drawing and other painterly pursuits were the province of starving artists or simply child’s play, unlocking one’s creativity has become the latest mantra of personal growth and career success”.

I’ve extolled the creative virtues of doodling (see Doodle for your Noodle) and coloring books for grownups in previous posts. More than 60 books are expected to be published on doodling and a meditative drawing technique called Zentangling in 2015. Johanna Basford has made coloring cool for adults with her three books –Secret Garden, Enchanted Forest, and An Inky Quest -two of which are topping best seller lists this year.

This NY Times article noted that creativity has the same holistic benefits as a weekend at the Canyon Ranch Resort and Spa (and much cheaper, I might add). The Mayo Clinic recommends the health benefits of painting and ceramics. A four-year study found that people who took up creative endeavors at middle age suffered less memory loss.

Elizabeth Gilbert, of “Eat Pray Love” fame, has written a new book entitled Big Magic, Creative Living Beyond Fear. She argues creativity is not about dropping everything and becoming an opera star, but rather life driven more strongly by curiosity rather than fear.

Gilbert talks about her father’s passion for beekeeping. He did not abandon his practice as an accountant but rather folded his dream into his every day life.

Whether the economy has improved is up for debate. Many people remain stuck in jobs they do not love. Creativity enables fulfillment in other aspects of our lives. Let’s face it the left brain linear thinkers among us have reduced the concept of creativity to a “trivial pursuit”. In reality, people need to maintain some sense of themselves and to keep their soulful spirits in tact.

Throughout the country creativity clubs are sprouting. Members keep in contact to help each other rouse imaginations.

Living a creative life is hardly a new idea. Robert Henri, an artist and teacher in the 1920s, wrote The Art Spirit. He counseled his students that artful living is as much an attitude as a practice. Then there is Julia Cameron, writer of The Artists Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity. Her newest book, It’s Never Too Late To Begin Again: Creativity In the Golden Years,will be published next year.

Cameron writes how many of us feel it is too late as we have squandered our creative capital by investing disproportionately in the hopes and dreams of others. “Others think the only path to a creative life is a quit your job or nothing proposition”. Cameron says by fantasizing about doing your art full time sometimes means not even doing it part time or at all.

Many of us are currently in the midst of transitions- work to retirement, work to grand-parenting, work to a different kind of work, and even health transitions. A Be Brave. Lose the Beige motto reads…

Running from meeting to meeting, checking off the to-do-list—That isn’t really living. Discovering the playful side of life. Spreading joy. Being colorful…clever…creative.

Now, that’s living!

Just like the accountant/Beekeeper mentioned above, try folding your dreams into your daily lives. Even a little creative thinking can produce seismic changes.

Have you ever heard someone say, “I had a great idea when I was taking a shower this morning”? I have heard this expression on countless occasions, so many times in fact I no longer think it’s a coincidence. Let’s face it, it’s one of the only times during our day when we are alone and not being bombarded by sound. We can actually listen to ourselves. Try spending time alone with yourself, minus the cell phone or television. Our interior selves serve as good guides for making wise choices. Is there any place or time other than the shower where you can hear yourself? Let me know.

I direct a program called the Jeremiah Project which is a creative arts program for at-risk middle school age students. Students will often express frustration when they are unable to create a perfect bowl on the pottery wheel. At that point I say to them, “just because art is fun doesn’t mean it’s easy”. That’s why I enjoyed Ira Glass’s description of creativity and story telling. Creative work is hard and it helps to have the encouragement of someone as clever and creative as Ira Glass (of This American Life on NPR) Check out his short video by clicking here.

As I mentioned in a previous blog post (see Doodle for Your Noodle below) Be Brave. Lose the Beige is obsessed with creativity. I consider myself to be a creativity evangelist I’m so persuaded of its impact on brain health. Studies have demonstrated participation in the arts promotes physical and mental health, particularly among aging adults. Besides, it’s fun and, as per an earlier blog post, creativity can relieve boredom (I find boredom to be a cardinal sin).

Since even the word “creativity” can elicit tension and intimidation, Be Brave. Lose the Beige is on a mission to make creativity more accessible. That’s why I’m delighted to have discovered two non-threatening creative endeavors guaranteed to be stress relieving and fun.

I wrote about doodling in my previous post. Visit Pinterest or Amazon and you will be introduced to a whole world of doodling, an artistic expression that can be a soothing take on relaxation.

In this post, I want to introduce you to Coloring Books for Grownups. Yes, I really mean it adult coloring books are all the rage right now, largely due to the work of Johanna Basford. The Today Show on NBC did an entire segment on the concept of adult coloring books, which, until Johanna Basford, were virtually unheard of. (Except for those of us who secretly, or perhaps not so secretly, pilfered pages from our kids’ coloring books for our own creative coloring) Basford, who describes herself as an illustrator and ink evangelist, took nine months creating her first book, Secret Garden. This book has sold over a million copies and is selling out all over the world, having been translated in 22 languages. She followed up with Enchanted Forest. The #1 and #2 books on Amazon are not mystery novels or courtroom thrillers, but Secret Garden and Enchanted Forest. (Kids, you better hide your coloring books, grown ups are headed your way.)

Google, Pinterest, and even Johanna Basford’s website, have lots of single coloring pages available for downloading. Markers, crayons, and colored pencils serve to transform these black and white illustrations into colorful masterpieces. Basford has turned her facebook page into a gallery of art work uploaded by fans on her website. Thus, coloring has the triple benefit of being…

an engaging creative endeavor (the benefits of which I’ve enumerated above)

fun and relaxing

possibly featured in an online gallery.

Send your doodles or coloring pages to me at Liztkg@cfl.rr.com and I will feature them on my gallery page.